There is an old saying, used worldwide, about a place for everything, and everything in its place. This mantra does not have to be only used by people who are fanatical about tidiness. The tidying away of all your possessions can sometimes bring a feeling of almost clinical sterility. Storage does not necessarily have to mean hiding everything away.

Storage units can be used in a functional and decorative way at the same time. There are shelves that resemble picture frames, for example, to help make whatever you store on them into a work of art. Vintage shop fittings made from dark or light wood, add character to the kitchen / diner. Still in the kitchen, try running strips of wood from wall to wall, or between wall and cupboard side, to construct a framework upon which sauces, herbs, pulses and spices can be arranged.

Another unusual idea is to use backlighting behind shelving units, that otherwise seem rather utilitarian, with coloured Perspex sheets as backs. This will transform your collection of crockery and glass into a masterpiece.

If you decide to use cabinets or units fitted with glass doors, try to match their colour as closely as possible with the colour of the wall against which they are to stand. The blending of the framework into the wall will focus the attention on the contents of the cupboard.

Unusual storage ideas, such as these, will make your house feel like a home, and will also stamp your individual personality on it.